Chapter 259. The Ninth Floor of the Tower of Magic (6)
Day 79 of the Hundred Days Tower Quest.
Yuri, who had been lying flat, abruptly sat up, his face hardened like stone. In a dry, emotionless voice, he spoke.
“This isn’t going to work.”
Sitting up straight, Yuri reflected on the past days.
After Day 50, no matter what he tried, Yuri’s attacks could not reach Coco.
Of course, this didn’t mean he was weak.
It was simply that Coco was excessively strong.
And even so, Yuri fought well enough to earn Coco’s acknowledgment.
However, Yuri was not satisfied with the result.
‘Regardless of how the process goes, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m still stuck in this damn tower.’
Yuri’s gaze sank deeply.
He pondered and pondered again.
How could he overcome this challenge?
How could he escape from Coco and this tower?
After a long period of contemplation, he shook his head.
“At this rate… it will never end.”
Unless something changed, he would just keep repeating what he had been doing.
To break out of this stagnant situation, something close to an innovation was needed.
At this, Yuri let out a small laugh.
‘Well, it’s not really an innovation… After all, there’s only one thing I need.’
What Yuri needed was to open his domain.
Not relying on a ‘false domain’ like he had been, but opening a true domain was the only way he could escape from this wretched tower and from Coco.
The problem was how to open that domain…
‘If I keep going like this, will I reach that level?’
Yuri immediately shook his head without much thought.
‘No, if I keep fighting Coco like this, I’ll just be repeating the same time over and over. So then…’
Yuri’s eyes gleamed as he made a bold decision.
* * *
Day 80 of the Hundred Days Tower Quest.
Rumble—!
One of the exits of the Hundred Days Tower, which had been closed, opened to the sides.
From within, three figures slowly emerged.
“We’re free at last!”
“I’m starving!”
As soon as the door opened, Arin and Poppy dashed outside, raising their hands high.
Behind the two, who were eagerly sniffing the fresh air, Gunther slowly appeared.
“Huff!”
Though not as excited as Arin and Poppy, he also wore a faint smile, glad to finally be outside again.
Meanwhile, Arin quickly turned her body and shouted.
“We’re finally free from those dreadful rations! Let’s go and ask Yuri to cook us something delicious!”
“I’m starving!”
Poppy nodded vigorously in agreement with Arin’s enthusiastic shout.
The most grueling thing for them in the Hundred Days Tower had been the memory of Yuri’s cooking, not any of the challenges they faced.
Arin, assuming that Yuri had already exited the tower, was about to rush off when she stopped and beckoned behind her.
“What are you two doing? Come on, hurry up!”
At Arin’s call, Poppy and Gunther quickly followed her side.
The three ran in a line, shoulder to shoulder. The camaraderie built over the past 80 days had softened the atmosphere among them compared to before they entered the tower.
Meanwhile, at the same time…
“…What did you just say?”
Coco, who had arrived at the ninth floor as usual, blinked and asked back.
In response, Yuri answered lightly.
“For a while, I’m going to study, so the ninth floor is off-limits.”
“You think this is some kind of study room for young masters? And what kind of studying all of a sudden?”
“What kind of studying? Of course, figuring out how I can beat you, Coco.”
“Hmm?”
Coco looked at Yuri with a face full of surprise.
He seemed to have already made up his mind, his expression calm and unwavering.
Seeing his firm and deep gaze, Coco was taken aback.
‘This guy… he’s trying to surpass himself!’
For the past 30 days, every day had been filled with joy for her.
Yuri had visibly grown stronger day by day, making it feel like she was fighting a new person each time.
Even that was remarkable, but the guy was not satisfied and was ready to leap even higher and further.
Coco’s eyes gleamed as she asked.
“How long?”
“Until Day 100.”
“Hmm…”
Coco stared at Yuri intently.
That meant he would make his final challenge on the 100th day since entering the tower.
Frankly, Coco was under no obligation to grant his request.
But…
‘This could be fun.’
If this little monster, who had been growing day by day, was given 20 days…
If he managed to leap forward during that time, how would he appear?
With her heart slightly fluttering, Coco asked.
“Are you confident you’ll find the answer?”
Yuri responded as if it were no big deal.
“I don’t know. We’ll see.”
Though he said that, there was no trace of anxiety or impatience in Yuri’s eyes.
Only confidence in himself was present.
Seeing this, Coco smiled with her eyes.
“Alright! On the 100th day, I’ll come back.”
Then, without hesitation, she turned and walked away.
An expectant smile lingered subtly on Coco’s lips.
‘Don’t disappoint me.’
* * *
Day 85 of the Hundred Days Tower Quest.
Since the day Yuri banned Coco from the ninth floor, he had been sitting in a meditative posture without opening his eyes even once.
He had forgotten to eat, drink, or even sleep, and continued an endless replay of his battles.
‘I need to fully absorb all my experiences so far.’
From his fights with Coco, Yuri had gained a lot.
The significance behind Coco’s movements.
How she manipulated mana.
How she crafted and connected her moves depending on the situation, and so on.
Each of the absolute moves of a supreme master contained vast amounts of information, invaluable experiences that couldn’t be bought with money.
The problem was that Yuri didn’t have enough time to fully digest those experiences.
Each day, endless fights and endless reflections.
Through them, he gained vast amounts of information and inspiration.
But before he could fully internalize them, a new battle with Coco would begin.
The next day, more new information and inspiration would pour in.
Even though he could only absorb a fraction of the enormous amount of experience he gathered, Yuri managed to grow day by day.
However, the issue was that it was all too sudden.
Because of that, Yuri could easily sense that he was in an unstable state.
So he changed his approach.
He had more than enough information and inspiration; now it was time to build his foundation.
‘I’ve seen enough from Coco.’
Through her, he obtained the key to opening his domain and created the technique called Above Domain.
And yet, he still hadn’t managed to open a true domain, which meant there was another problem.
‘There’s not just one key needed to open a domain. I’ve gotten one key through Coco, so now…’
Yuri’s eyes deepened.
‘I must find the other within myself.’
The key to opening his domain.
One of them lay within himself.
With this conviction, Yuri continued to reflect endlessly.
In that silence…
Time flowed quickly.
* * *
Evening of Day 99 of the Hundred Days Tower Quest.
At the dining hall of the Demon King’s Castle, Theresia, Arin, Poppy, Gunther, and Mucci had gathered.
With a square table in the center, a gloomy atmosphere pervaded among them.
Thud.
Theresia split a hard and dry ration in half and murmured in a somber voice.
“When is Yuri… coming back?”
“Sigh…”
A deep sigh followed from Arin, who lay sprawled over the table.
“I’m starving…”
Poppy also sighed and fidgeted with the ration pack.
Gunther’s expression was equally dark.
Seeing his seniors like this, Mucci spoke in a concerned voice.
“Don’t worry too much. Yuri will be fine.”
No sooner had Mucci finished speaking than four pairs of eyes turned toward him.
And four voices were quickly thrown in response.
“Worry? What do you mean?”
“Seriously, did you think we were worried about Yuri?”
“I’m starving?”
“Hmph… The youngest got it wrong.”
From Theresia to Gunther, they responded one after another.
Mucci tilted his head.
“Uh… Weren’t you all worried about Yuri?”
Mucci had heard bits and pieces of the story.
That Yuri had entered the tower of the quest… and had yet to come out, even though it was known for its hellish difficulty.
So seeing his seniors so down, he naturally assumed they were worried about Yuri…
“Why would we be?”
“Youngest, the only thing more foolish than worrying about Yuri in this cradle is…”
“Is wanting food.”
“Precisely.”
“Starving.”
…He had guessed wrong. Completely wrong.
Mucci blinked and asked.
“…Then why are you all so down?”
In response to his question, they answered sequentially.
“We just…”
“Want to eat…”
“Something delicious.”
“I’m starving!”
Theresia to Poppy answered in turn, and Mucci nodded slightly.
‘Oh, I see!’
As if he had realized something, he pulled out a notebook from his pocket and scribbled down a note.
[Instead of worrying about Yuri Holland, it’s better to think about what’s for dinner.]
Another distorted realization was added to Mucci’s black notebook.
Meanwhile, at the same time, back at the Hundred Days Tower.
There was one individual among the 50 cadets who had yet to leave the tower.
He still sat with his eyes closed.
If not for the
rising and falling of his chest, one might have mistaken Yuri for a statue, so still was he.
For a long time, he remained unmoving when something unusual happened.
Ssssss—
A faint light emanated from Yuri’s entire body.
The light drifted around the ninth floor like mist before disappearing.
How much time passed after that?
Ssss—Ssss—
The quiet sound of breathing suddenly ceased.
Flash—
Two golden eyes opened, shining brightly.
* * *
Day 100 of the Hundred Days Tower Quest.
Thump, thump—
Coco was heading towards the ninth floor, a cigarette hanging from her lips.
Her face bore a slight hint of anticipation.
‘Just how well did it ripen?’
She had waited 20 days.
She was itching with curiosity about whether what she had left on the ninth floor had ripened beautifully or spoiled.
With that curiosity, as soon as she stepped onto the ninth floor…
“…!”
Coco stopped in her tracks.
As if time had frozen, she stood still, her gaze fixed ahead.
There, a boy was standing quietly.
After who knows how long without eating, his body was far more emaciated than it had been 20 days ago.
His skin was sallow, his cheeks hollowed, and his eyes so sunken they looked like they would bulge out.
Yet, in stark contrast to his appearance, his eyes radiated a strong, resolute light that brought a smile to Coco’s face.
‘It’s ripened beautifully.’
Excited, she resumed her steps toward Yuri.
The closer she got to Yuri, the more she trembled with excitement.
‘This guy…’
His body was indeed frail.
But the aura emanating from him was several times larger than it had been 20 days ago.
Finally, Coco stood in front of Yuri.
Thump—
She smirked and spoke.
“Did you find the answer?”
Yuri shrugged casually.
“Well, who knows?”
“…?”
“I’m not sure?”
At the unexpected answer, Coco tilted her head in confusion.
“Not sure?”
“I did find something, but whether it’s the answer I was looking for… I haven’t tested it yet.”
“What?”
Coco stared at him in disbelief, and Yuri chuckled as he drew his sword.
“Well then, let’s see if it’s the answer.”
Coco smirked at his response.
She lit her cigarette and pulled out her nunchucks.
Sss—
A deep breath.
Exhale—!
The pale smoke dispersed between them, and as it did, their smiles disappeared.
“……”
“……”
Standing about five meters apart, the two stared at each other without any expression.
Both of them instinctively knew.
‘This…’
‘It ends in one strike.’
During the 99 days.
For 80 of those days, they had fought relentlessly.
The remaining 19 were filled with tedious waiting.
And on this last day of the long journey.
Everything would be decided in ‘the time it takes to burn a single cigarette.’
They both felt this simultaneously.
Buzz—
In the quiet stillness, their auras clashed sharply.
Zap!
Yuri’s figure vanished in a streak of lightning.
And a blue bolt struck down in front of Coco.
Boom!
From within the scattering lightning, a white blade suddenly emerged.
In response, Coco’s arm moved, and her nunchucks whipped up a violent wind.
Clang—Clang—!
Yuri’s sword sparked and trembled under the onslaught.
Withdrawing his sword amidst the flurry of the nunchucks, he immediately deployed Above Domain, aiming the tip of his sword at Coco’s chest.
It was all a move that predicted Coco’s actions.
Seeing this, irritation flickered in Coco’s eyes.
‘This isn’t all there is, right?’
Yuri’s movements were much more refined than 20 days ago.
He was also faster and stronger.
But this was not the level Coco wanted.
She had waited a whole 20 days.
Shouldn’t he show much more for that time?
‘More… Give me more!’
Whoosh—!
Coco’s nunchucks, as if engulfed in flames, were wrapped in a fierce, dark red aura.
As the fire condensed, only red streaks remained in the air.
‘Ugh!’
Yuri immediately drew his holy sword in response to the powerful energy Coco had unleashed.
Red and golden trails intertwined chaotically in the air.
Boom! Boom!
The consecutive explosions echoed.
Watching his holy sword crumble under the pressure, Yuri gritted his teeth.
‘This… might kill me.’
Coco had shown some leniency 20 days ago.
But not anymore.
Before, it was like, ‘If I make a mistake, I might die.’ Now it was, ‘If I can’t hold on, I will die!’
The encroaching crimson trails seemed like grim reapers bringing death.
Yet even in such circumstances, Yuri calmly observed Coco.
‘Just once… One chance is enough.’
Just one opportunity.
That was all he needed.
And that opportunity would be provided by the answer he had found.
If, of course, it was indeed the correct answer.
‘Alright, let’s find out.’
Unafraid of the approaching crimson reapers, Yuri thrust his golden holy sword forward.
Crunch—
Yuri’s sword contorted under the pressure.
Yet the golden sword persevered, cutting through the crimson barrage and pushing forward.
‘A bit more!’
After holding on and enduring, Yuri’s sword finally reached Coco’s chest.
Coco, seeing this, smirked.
‘Do you think this is enough?’
Already aware of everything through her domain, she calmly twisted her body to evade.
Just as Coco was about to easily slip away.
‘Now!’
Yuri’s perception of time slowed.
At that moment, he discarded something.
He discarded all his senses that he previously processed with his brain.
No, to be precise, he excluded those senses recognized by his brain.
Instead, he accepted what he began to perceive after letting go.
Except these were not processed by his brain.
They were detected by his mana core.
‘Ah…!’
Thump—
The moment he felt his mana core pulse, Yuri felt his world expand.
A super-sensory perception similar to Above Domain, but completely different.
It wasn’t his mind but the mana core that detected this new world.
It was as if he had two brains inside his body!
Yuri felt a rush of joy.
‘I found it!’
Upon verifying, he realized he had found the correct answer.
Perhaps as proof of this…
Crack—
The golden holy sword that had been enduring the crimson onslaught shattered into pieces.
Amidst the fragments scattering like petals.
A silent, white blade rose from the midst…
Slash—
And cut through the bright red ember of the cigarette.